In recent days, large fluorescent green stickers have been reintroduced by New York City to warn vehicles not moved before street sweepers pass. Local media outlets reported this information.

Under alternate side parking regulations, vehicles must be moved from one side of the street on specific days and times to allow for cleaning. If vehicles are not moved when street sweepers operate, road surface cleaning is hampered.

This is not the first time New York has used these 'shaming stickers'. The measure was previously implemented but banned in 2012 because the stickers were unsightly and difficult to remove from vehicles.

The green sticker reads, "This vehicle is in violation of New York street cleaning regulations, preventing the street from being cleaned as scheduled." *Photo: X/Emma G. Fitzsimmons*

This summer, the New York City Council voted 41-10 to reinstate this measure. Mayor Zohran Mamdani then allowed the bill to take effect without his signature. The use of 'shaming stickers' is expected to encourage drivers to proactively move their vehicles on street cleaning days. However, this measure has also sparked debate.

David Greenfield, a former New York City Council member, opposed and banned these stickers 14 years ago. According to him, many drivers received stickers despite not intentionally violating regulations, while the adhesive could damage vehicles. He argued that a parking ticket is already a form of penalty, and applying a sticker to a car's windshield could be considered property damage.

This time, the new stickers are reportedly easier to remove. Gale Brewer, a City Council member representing Manhattan and the proponent of reinstating the measure, stated that the new design has been improved.

Instructions printed on the stickers advise vehicle owners to use warm water and a scraper to remove them from the windshield. However, whether these peeled-off stickers will become street litter is also a concern.

The effectiveness of this measure in changing parking habits still requires time to be proven. But for drivers who leave their vehicles on streets scheduled for cleaning, the blue reminder on previously violating windshields will be hard to ignore.

Ho Tan (according to Road and Track)